Author: Anju Agnihotri Chaba
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: January 29, 2009
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/woman-cop-faces-net-attack-for-crackdown-on-eveteasing/416424/
Some may call it poetic justice: the woman
who has struck fear into the hearts of hooligans and eve-teasers in Jalandhar
colleges is a Police Inspector called Sita Rani, who received an award in
recognition of her work on Republic Day this year.
And while these miscreants may flee when they
see her approaching, they are now trying to get back at her by using a social
networking site to launch hate communities against her.
'I hate Sita Rani' and 'We hate Sita Rani'
on Orkut, with 80 and 188 members respectively, are some of the 'clubs' formed
for the express purpose of spewing venom at the police officer who looks after
the Eve-Teasing Cell set up by Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Satinder
Pal Singh.
The Inspector is known to do the rounds of
colleges, where she hauls up boys teasing or harassing girls and giving them
on-the-spot punishment, in public, including making them do sit-ups while
they hold their ears. Political pressure and the clout of well-heeled parents
have had no effect on Sita Rani so far.
College principals are full of praise for
her, including the head of APJ College for Fine Arts Dr Sucharita Sharma.
"I support Sita Rani as she has cleaned the college precincts of unruly
boys," she says.
The boys have now been reduced to hitting
back on the Net. And they're dedicated to their dubious cause. Members of
'I Hate Sita Rani' community, for example, have even held opinion polls, including
questions such as: 'Should Sita Rani be transferred out of Jalandhar?'
Undaunted, Sita Rani says she will continue
to do her job. "I listen to everyone, but act as per law," she said.
"If my name is being maligned on a networking site, I will bring it to
the notice of my seniors."
SP Singh, meanwhile, has promised to take
action against creators of the communities on Orkut.
"Parents of eve-teasers are always informed
about their actions and they have also been taking their sons for counselling
sessions," he added.